Wave-energy motor.



C. M. RHODES.

WAVE ENERGY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5,1911.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOK. 4m Mam;

C. M. RHODES.

WAVE ENERGY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5,1911.

LQQQQIQ, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

1 1V V EN TOR.

GHARLEES M. RHOIEES, F STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

wnvn-nn'nner Moron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1212.

Application filed May 5, 1911. Serial No. 625,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. RHODES,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented v certain new and useful Improvements in VVave-Energy Motors, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates" to wave energy motors of the float type, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of novel means, in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth, for obtaining power by the undulatory movement of float-s upon to impart a rotary movement to a shaft.

A still further object of the invention is "to accomplish the above results by a mechanical construction that is simple, du-

' rable, capable of withstanding the forces of is 'a plan of a rack guide.

nature, and efficient for generating power that can be used for various purposes.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter: specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the motor,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same partly broken away and partly in section, Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the motor, Fig. 4 is aplan of the motor, Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a rack adapted toformpart of the motor, Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the ratchet mechanism, Fig. 7, is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of a rack and a detail of the float, and 'Fig. 8

The reference numeral 1 rality of vertical supports adapted to have the lower ends thereof anchored in the hot tom of the ocean,,sai d supportshaving the upper ends thereof connected by longitudidenotes p1u-.

nal girders 2 and these girders are connected by transverse beams3. The supports 1 are connected by longitudinal girders 4;, said girders being located at a point below the surface of the water at low use: The elements 1 to 4L- inclusive constitute a suitable elevated structure for supporting the motor a desired and safe distance above the ocean waves, said pier structure being preferably in communication with the ocean shore, whereby power can be easily transmitted to the shore for manufacturing or electric lighting purposes. The motorcan besuitably housed upon the pier structure and protected from the destructive force of nature that might render the motor inoperative.

Connecting the beams 3 are longitudinal girders 5 and a channel bar 6. Mounted upon the girders 5 intermediate the ends thereof are vertical bearings 7 for a longitudinal shaft 8. Fixed upon the shaft 8 between the bearings 7 are two sets of ratchet wheels, the ratchet wheels of one set being designated 9 and 10 and the ratchet wheels of another set 11 and 12. The ratchet wheels 9 and 11 have the teeth thereof the reverse of the ratchet wheels 10 and 12. Arranged between the ratchet wheels 9 and 10 and loosely supported upon the shaft 8 are pinions 13 and 14. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 8, between the ratchet wheels 11 and 12, are pinions 15 and 16. The pinions 13 and 15 are provided with spring pressed pawls 17 adapted to mesh with the ratchet wheels 9 andll. The pinions 14 and 16 have spring pressed pawls 18 adapted to mesh with the ratchet wheels 10 and 12.

Loosely mounted upon the hubs of the ratchet wheels 2. 12 inclusive are rectangular rack guides 19 having vertical housings 20 for double racks generally designated 21 and 22, the teeth 23 and 24 of the rack 21 mesh with the pinions 13 and 14 respectively and the teeth 25 and 26 of the rack 22 mesh with the pinions 15 and 16 respectively. The lower ends of the racks 21 and 22 are pivotallyconnected by pins 27 to apertured lugs 28, carried by the upwith a stifiening rib 30 that extends up wardly at the ends thereof, as at 31 and is provided with bearings 32 for a rotatable rod 33 whereby the float is loosely suspended on said rod 33. Mounted upon the ends l per side of a hollow cylindrical closed float f '29. The bottom of this float is provided of the rod 33 are pinions 34 adapted to travel between stationary racks 35, arranged within vertical channel bars 36 carried by the girders 4, said channel bars extending from the girders 4 to the longitudinal girders 2. The pinions 34 insure an even and perfectly balanced vertical movement of the rod 33 between the bars 36. The ends of the rod 33 adjacent to the pinions 34 have guide blocks 37 slidable between the sides of each channel bar, and adjacent to these blocks are brackets 38, carried by the ends of the float. Pivotally connected to the brackets 38 by pins 39 are fulcrumed grav ity members 40 having teeth 41. adapted to engage inwardly extending equally spaced pins 42, carried by one side of each of the channel bars 36. The members 40 are weighted, as at 43 to normally remain in the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The lateral impulse of a wave can move the float 29 in two directions and the swell of the wave can elevate the float and the float will descend by gravity.

hen the float 29 is moved in the direction of th arrow A, the members 40 engage the pins 2, the lateral impulse of a wave tends to slightly elevate the float and swing it out in the direction of the arrow A to approximately 'a horizontal position. Such movement of the float elevates the double rack 21 and lowers the double rack 22. When the racks are moved the pinions 13 to 16 inclusive are moved, but only two of the pinions move in the proper direction to shift two of the ratchet wheels and consequently the shaft 8 will only be revolved in one direction. When the float moves toward its normal position or from normal in the direction of the arrow B it swings upon the rod 33 and causes the double rack 22 to be elevated and the rack 21 lowered operating thereby the pinions 13 to 16, but only two of the pinions move in the proper direction to shift two of the ratchet wheels so that the shaft 8 will continue to operate in the proper direction. When the float is moved in the direction of the arrow B the movement is independent of any operation of the members 40, these latter coming into operation only when the float is shifted in the direction of the arrow A. Vhen the float 29 is elevated by a wave the double racks 21 and 22 cooperate in imparting a rotary movement to the shaft 8, these racks operating two of the pinions and two of the ratchet wheels, the others remaining idle due to the fact that the spring pressed pawls recede over the ratchet wheels when the pinions supporting saidpawls are revolved.

Onc manner of obtaining power from the shaft 8 is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and which comprises a large gear wheel 44 slidably mounted upon the shaft 8 and is shift- 45, carried by said shaft, by a sleeve 46 on an arm 47 connected to said sleeve and mounted upon a shaft 48, journaled in bearings 49 carried by the channels bars 36. The end of the shaft 48 has a conventional form of operating lever 50. The large gear wheel 44 meshes with a small gear wheel 51 mount ed upon a shaft. 52, journaled in bearings 53, carried by the girders 5. The shaft 52 has a large belt Wheel 54 adapted to transmit power, through the medium of a belt to a motor or any other machinery located upon the pier or elevated structure. If desired a motor can be coupled direct to the shaft 52 and the electricity generated transmitted to the shore by suitable cables for conductors.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have devised novel means imparting a rotary movement to a shaft from an oseilla tory float arranged to be actuated by the lateral impulse or force of a wave, also by the swell or fall and rise of the surface of the ave. ,The motor herein shown and descri ed can be used as a unit of a plant located upon a long pier extending into the ocean, whereby suflicient power can be gcnera'ted for manufacturing or municipallighting purposes. 7 The invention is susceptible to such varia tions as fall within the scope of the ap pended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a wave energy motor, a pier, vertical racks carried by said p1er,.a rod, pinions carried by the ends of said rod and adapted to move upon said racks, a float carried by said rod, double racks pivotally connected to said float, a revoluble shaft supportedfby.

said pier, and a ratchet mechanism carried by said shaft and adapted to be actuated by said" double racks.

2. In a wave energy motor, vertical racks,

a rod having the ends thereof guided be -g tween said racks, a float suspended from said rod, double racks pivotally connected to the upper side of said float, a revoluble shaft, and a ratchet mechanism actuated 'by said double racks for imparting a rotary movement to said shaft.

3. In a wave energy motor, vertical racks, a rod having the ends thereof guided, between said racks, a float suspended from said rod, double racks pi vet-ally connected to the upper side of said float, a revoluble sha It, a ratchet mechanism actuated bysaid ally connected tothe upper side o'f-said float,

- movably supported by said pier, a float suspended from said rod, double racks pivotally connected to the upper side of said float, a revoluble shaft, ratchet mechanisms arranged upon said shaft and adapted to be actuated by said double racks to impart a rotary movement to said shaft, rack guides movably arranged upon said shaft, and ful crumed members carried by the ends of said float and adapted to serve functionally as a fulcrum for a movement of said float.

6. In a wave energy motor, a pier, a vertically movable float slidably neath said pier and actuated by the Waves, racks adapted to guide said float, a revolubleshaft, elements carried by said float, and means arranged upon said shaft and adapted to be actuated by said elements for imparting a rotary movement to said shaft.

mounted be- I 7. In a Wave energy motor, vertical racks, an oscillatory float movably guided by said racks, double racks actuated of said float, a shaft, and means actuated by said double racks and adapted to impart a rotarymovement to said shaft.

8. In a Wave energy motor, a vertically movable pivdted float adapted to be actuated by the lateral impulses of the Waves, a revoluble shaft, double racks having their lower ends pivotally connected tosaid float, means carried by said shaft and adapted to be actuated by said double racks for imparting a rotary movement to said shaft, vertical movable means for pivotally suspending the float and means adapted to evenly guide the vertical movement of said suspension means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES M. RHODES.

Witnesses:

" MAX H. SRoLovITz,

CHRISTINA T. Hoot).

by a movement 

